What Do We Pay for in a Gallon of Gasoline?
December 23, 2013
The figure below shows how the shares of component costs have changed for a gallon of regular gasoline over the ten-year period from September 2003 to September 2013. In 2003, crude oil accounted for 38.3% of the retail price of a gallon of regular gasoline. By 2013, the share for crude oil nearly doubled to 70.8% of the price. While the share for crude oil grew, the shares for taxes, distribution and marketing, and refining decreased proportionally. In 2003, taxes accounted for 25% of the price of regular gasoline but by 2013, taxes accounted for just 11.9% of the price.
Price Components of a Gallon of Gasoline, September 2003 vs. September 2013
Price Components of a Gallon of Gasoline, September 2003 vs. September 2013
| Month/Year | Refining | Distribution & Marketing | Taxes | Crude Oil | Retail Price ($/Gallon) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2003 | 13.9% | 22.7% | 25.0% | 38.3% | 1.679 |
| September 2013 | 6.2% | 11.1% | 11.9% | 70.8% | 3.532 |
Source
Energy Information Administration, Gasoline Pump Components History, November 2013.